, 1887-12-06
THOSE DETECTIVES.
The Grand Jury Will Investigate
Methods of Stock Inspectors.
The System Condemned BY the
Judge in His Charge.
WOuld-be Detectives Who Induce
Men to Commit Crimes.

The workings of the Stock Association
detectives who do not detect, are to be in
vestigated by the grand jury. Appended
is the portion of Judge Maginnis' charge
to that body bearing on that subject:
There is an important matter which |
think it is the duty of the court to call to
your attention for action. In the case OF
the territory against Ryan, in which you
presented a true bill, the evidence in the
court on Saturday disclosed the fact that
some stock inspectors, or stock detectives,
have been making it a business in this
county to induce persons to commit crime
for the purpose of arresting them after
wards to obtain a reward. | regret very
much to say, gentlemen, that it is doubt
full whether such action on the part of the
detectives can be punished as criminal I'M
der the statutes of the territory; but such
outrageous procedure by the officers of
the law deserves the condemnation of the
court and certainly of the grand jury, as
it refers to this county. The stenogra
pher will make a transcript of the evidence
for your body if you desire"
Acting upon the request of the grand
jury and advice of the court, Stenog-
rapher Morris extended his notes of the
evidence of Foster and Elan given OH
the trial of Ryan Saturday.
The system of detective work adopted
to secure some pretext for the arrest and
prosecution of Ryan, Howard. Paulson,
Lavelle, Hall and Huffman certainly de-
serves nothing but the severest censure
and condemnation. Such despicable meth
DDS would be tolerated nowhere else. The
evidence already adduced in these cases
and the testimony forthcoming will con-
vince all that in terreting out a supposed
crime the representatives of the law should
confine themselves to certain limits pre-
scribed and recognized by reputable pro-
f%essional detectives. 1t is certainly not
the province of these men to induce
Others to commit crimes with the avowed
purpose of securing their apprehension as
offenders.
Had existing circumstances warranted
it, had it been a recognized fact that these
men, who, to outward appearances, were
honest %ranchmen, were really a well or
ganized and dangerous band OF cattle
thieves, it would be the p~rerogative of a
detective to have Joined them for the pur-
pose of securing evidence. Such was not
the case, however. A scapegoat or victim
was desired. Elan and Foster, thirsting
for notoriety, selected the men above mem
toned as possible c%ulprits. They took up
their abode in that vicinity, pretending to
be ranchmen. They watched their prey
as the gourmand nurses the fattening
goose, or the lion tanner throws his cap
tive king choice bits of bloody meat. They
continually harped upon the ease with
which wealth might rapidly be acquired
by branding mavericks and holding strays.
They talked of nothing but the scarcity
and cost of fresh meat and the large mum
Der of unmarked cattle ranging in that
section.
1t was the old story of the
spider and fly, and the evidence shows
that the latter was entangled in the
meshes of the attractive web only after
great pesuasiou.
In Ryan's case it was shown hat him
self and Elan captured three mavericks.
The great detective branded two. Ryan
hesitated when given leave to appropriate
the third. Elan adroitly urged him on
ward and the awful crime was committed.
Ryan says that not having a brand of
his own he placed Halls mark upon the
creature. Elan contends that the
brand used was the property of the man.
ipulator.
The outcome of the investigation by
the grand Jury is awaited with a great
deal Of interest.